Atrocities against german soldiers

Description

This photo shows one of 34 german soldiers of 9th SS-Panzer-Division "Hohenstaufen" that were captured by the Red Army in April 1944 in the ukrainian village of Kalasantovka. The mutilated bodies were found by their comrades during the german counter attack on the near-by town of Ternopil. A german eyewitness: "That's not the way soldiers are supposed to act. The hands and the feet of the dead were bound with the ropes of their own tentpieces. Partially the trousers were pulled down and genitals severed. With some the eyes were stabbed, ears and tongue cut off. Furthermore their own bayonet was rammed into the stomach from the downside. Dogtags and other ID's were removed to avoid an identification of the dead. Fortunately most of them had their last names sewn on the inside of their uniform pieces so that a list of the victims could be compiled. However this list was lost later on so that these 34 soldiers are considered officially as "Missing in Action".

Recent comments

Boris, the number of Soviet POW's that died in German captivity is more like 4.5 million, not 7. Some sources state 3.5 million were killed. Still horrifying numbers and one of the worst genocides in human history. But I would urge to refrain from...

Boris, the number of Soviet POW's that died in German captivity is more like 4.5 million, not 7. Some sources state 3.5 million were killed. Still horrifying numbers and one of the worst genocides in human history. But I would urge to refrain from making histrionic comments and throwing out false information. I'm guessing you're still angry at the Germans but please try to stick to using facts...

Boris Robert (Sat 07 Jul 2018 06:07:11 PM EDT)

This man invaded Russia in Hitlers "war of extermination" No wonder, he was treat that badly.
Nearly. Nearly 7 Million russians prisoner of war were killed by us germans. That´s the shame!

This conduct by the Soviets actually began on the first day of the war. It became so widespread that the Germans actually documented many of the cases with the Red Cross and made sure copies of their investigation were sent to Great Britain & the US....

This conduct by the Soviets actually began on the first day of the war. It became so widespread that the Germans actually documented many of the cases with the Red Cross and made sure copies of their investigation were sent to Great Britain & the US. Even the Soviet High Command complained about it, not for any ethical reasons but because they lacked German POWs to interrogate.

Lletz Kidz (Mon 18 Feb 2013 03:48:21 AM EST)

it only means that war bring no good to earth and the next generation.

It's worth to mention actually the SS/WaffenSS have deserved a bitter honor in the East for their sometimes bestial behaviour toward population and realizing mass ethnic terror. However , it's IMO mistakely to think the SS behave so only in the East....

It's worth to mention actually the SS/WaffenSS have deserved a bitter honor in the East for their sometimes bestial behaviour toward population and realizing mass ethnic terror. However , it's IMO mistakely to think the SS behave so only in the East. The Malmedy massacre is an "hamble" but vivid example of moral side of that kind of troops.Americans , from their side, also has paid in the simular manner - later in Dahay camp.
As for fhoto description, i/m puzzled by the obvious contradiction -how the list of killed were lost but the "details of arocities" were saved so carefully?Just don't misunderstand me - no a second i doubt all those 34 unhappy pows were executed immediately after capturing- it heppend commonly.I just partly confused by the shoking details - knowing the habit of German racial propogand a "little-bit to embellish the things off".Like a soviet one..

Wehrmacht39 (Sat 18 Dec 2010 02:40:37 AM EST)

R.I.P. Mein Kamerad

WintersWar (Sat 18 Dec 2010 01:08:25 AM EST)

couldn't just execute them like a soldier, by firing squad. no. they had the time on their hands to torture these men. animals.

I've also seen picture of German Pows eaten by Russians .Russians never cared Germans were ordered to attack them (Geshtapo would kill those who deserted the lines)/The Allied shelled 70 000 000 tons of Bombs and G died in frozen lands of Russia more...

I've also seen picture of German Pows eaten by Russians .Russians never cared Germans were ordered to attack them (Geshtapo would kill those who deserted the lines)/The Allied shelled 70 000 000 tons of Bombs and G died in frozen lands of Russia more than 2 million died in Russia and in Allied hands later.If only u read the Verssaile treaty or the ordeal of Woodrow Wilson u will commiserate for these ill fated people.(what happened them later was a catastrophe)

bandsman (Mon 24 May 2010 11:01:03 PM EDT)

The Russians might have got the upper hand with the Germans, but they had to live in Stalin's Russia afterward s.Nor sure it was worth the effort.

EdwardHellion (Sat 23 May 2009 06:42:25 PM EDT)

Once again this proves that war itself is a crime

the worst part for these men was the fact that they were never properly identified.

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